Although in the U.S. it is mainly the manufacturer's responsibility to assure the quality of a good, in China, retailers are held accountable, the Journal said. But when regulating the country's food quality, the Chinese government typically goes after foreign companies, which have a bigger footprint than local stores, analysts told the publication.

Walmart: Austerity impacted China growth

Scott Price, President & CEO, Asia at Walmart, explains why the retailer shut down some of its stores in China.

While most large companies try to fly below the radar, Wal-Mart is speaking up against the trend.

"It's not something you see often in China," China Market Research Group analyst Ben Cavender told The Journal.

Wal-Mart's fines include labeling meat as donkey, when it was actually fox, and using improper font sizes on packages, the report said.